Finally, we have a new Phantom mold in 1:72 -- Corgi has been the only offering for some time and its mold is definitely in need of mothballs. HM has
served up a very, very nice first effort Phantom here in the livery of the famous Vietnam ace Steve Ritchie. I simply can't seem to have enough
camo Phantoms, which is my favorite "fast mover" by far, and this one is a very welcome addition to my collection, which includes four FM camo
Phantoms, and two Corgi F-4s, along with some 1:100s from the CDC Armour Collection days of yore.
None are as well detailed and realistic looking as this one, and the loadout is really "cool", too, for lack of a more appropriate term. Assembly was a
breeze: the weapons are pre-mounted on their rails, which clip into the wings, and the gear is also assembled as single pieces, which is a very
welcome change from Corgi's "fiddly bit" approach. Remember those tiny small doors right beneath the main struts on the Corgi version.. well these
are molded onto the lowered gear struts so you don't have to mess with 'em.
HM's effort is definitely better than the Corgi version -- particularly in the nose/canopy area and pilots (they look a bit silly out of the plane, though).
The panel lines are more fine, but I wish they were even more fine... but they look better than Corgi's. There is no wash applied to this model, which I
think is a bummer--the Phantom should be a gritty, grimy bird in my opinion and a light black wash, particularly on the underside would have been
welcome. The panel lines still look a bit heavy, even without the wash, but it should be pointed out that they are done in exactly the same fashion as
those on Century Wings models. Both lines are made in the same factory.
The open front canopy works just like Corgi's -- there's a separate piece in the box that you just attach the same way as you do with the Corgi
version -- but this one fits much better than my Annette's! The rear canopy is hinged and opens and shuts very smoothly -- I like it.
Again, the bombs/fuel pods attach easily are also molded as one piece -- as in the pylons come with everything pre-attached. A dab of Elmers will
probably be a good idea to keep these on securely.
I did break one of the main gear struts when I applied some pressure to the model -- I think I was fighting with the pilot to get it seated right... but it
broke cleanly and just will take some glue to fix. However, take care as the gear may be prone to breaking.
The only other thing I noticed was the decal for the closed gear door is not included on the open door.. whoops.
I must say I still prefer FM's in 1:48 for the sheer brute appeal of the scale and the heavy metal "heft" factor -- a model where I really think this is
important to me, I guess. But this is definitely an improvement for Phantom nuts in 1:72, no question. And the HM model does make my FM 1:48
Phantoms look all the more "crude" by comparison.
Highly Recommended!
served up a very, very nice first effort Phantom here in the livery of the famous Vietnam ace Steve Ritchie. I simply can't seem to have enough
camo Phantoms, which is my favorite "fast mover" by far, and this one is a very welcome addition to my collection, which includes four FM camo
Phantoms, and two Corgi F-4s, along with some 1:100s from the CDC Armour Collection days of yore.
None are as well detailed and realistic looking as this one, and the loadout is really "cool", too, for lack of a more appropriate term. Assembly was a
breeze: the weapons are pre-mounted on their rails, which clip into the wings, and the gear is also assembled as single pieces, which is a very
welcome change from Corgi's "fiddly bit" approach. Remember those tiny small doors right beneath the main struts on the Corgi version.. well these
are molded onto the lowered gear struts so you don't have to mess with 'em.
HM's effort is definitely better than the Corgi version -- particularly in the nose/canopy area and pilots (they look a bit silly out of the plane, though).
The panel lines are more fine, but I wish they were even more fine... but they look better than Corgi's. There is no wash applied to this model, which I
think is a bummer--the Phantom should be a gritty, grimy bird in my opinion and a light black wash, particularly on the underside would have been
welcome. The panel lines still look a bit heavy, even without the wash, but it should be pointed out that they are done in exactly the same fashion as
those on Century Wings models. Both lines are made in the same factory.
The open front canopy works just like Corgi's -- there's a separate piece in the box that you just attach the same way as you do with the Corgi
version -- but this one fits much better than my Annette's! The rear canopy is hinged and opens and shuts very smoothly -- I like it.
Again, the bombs/fuel pods attach easily are also molded as one piece -- as in the pylons come with everything pre-attached. A dab of Elmers will
probably be a good idea to keep these on securely.
I did break one of the main gear struts when I applied some pressure to the model -- I think I was fighting with the pilot to get it seated right... but it
broke cleanly and just will take some glue to fix. However, take care as the gear may be prone to breaking.
The only other thing I noticed was the decal for the closed gear door is not included on the open door.. whoops.
I must say I still prefer FM's in 1:48 for the sheer brute appeal of the scale and the heavy metal "heft" factor -- a model where I really think this is
important to me, I guess. But this is definitely an improvement for Phantom nuts in 1:72, no question. And the HM model does make my FM 1:48
Phantoms look all the more "crude" by comparison.
Highly Recommended!
Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series
HA1901 - McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II,
432 TRW, 555th TFS, Vietnam, 1972, Steve Ritchie Released: Spring, 2008
432 TRW, 555th TFS, Vietnam, 1972, Steve Ritchie Released: Spring, 2008
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Apply too much downward pressure on
your model and this could happen to
you -- thankfully, it was easy to fix.
your model and this could happen to
you -- thankfully, it was easy to fix.